Recipe of Spaghetti with Prawns and Crispy Artichokes

The artichoke is one of those delicacies that gives us Winter in fact we find it from February (but as a first fruit from January) and it is rich in iron, minerals (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium), some vitamins (A, B1, B2, C, PP) and, above all, is poor in calories.
The active ingredient of cynarin, in addition to connoting the particular bitter taste, gives the artichoke beneficial properties for renal diuresis as well as intestinal regularity.
I like it a lot, and today I propose one of those hazards with an amazing success: Artichokes with Prawns !!

... my recipe for Spaghetti with Prawns and Crispy Artichokes:
The artichoke, as mentioned, is a very precious food for our health and a great quantity should be consumed in its season.
The only real problem with this recipe is the cleaning of the artichokes, which can be long and annoying. To avoid stinging and coloring your fingers, we recommend using gloves, especially to remove excess outer leaves. If you prefer, you can buy the fresh artichokes already cleaned, which you find at the vegetable counter ... but, better if you do it, also because you have to save as much as you can the stems.

... my advices:
As I often repeat, the result of a good dish starts from the Excellent Raw Materials. So choose the best artichokes, according to your taste (the type is not important), but the important thing is that they have a tender stem.
Important: if they are small, then add 1-2 to the number I suggest in the list of ingredients.
Important: the artichokes, after boiled, provide a passage in the pan to make them crunchy and to make them lightly caramelized. At this stage, my advice is to turn them around a little so as not to completely dispose of them, but even if it should happen to some it does not matter, they will mix better with spaghetti.

Ingredients for 4 people:
320 gr of Spaghetti di Gragnano Dop
80 gr of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dop
4-5 large artichokes (fresh) with tender stems
12 prawns (also frozen).
3 garlic cloves
2 Lemons
The 1/2 lemon peel
Coarse salt (preferably Integral Sea Salt)
Pepper (if you like).

Preparation (Preparation time: about 45-60 minutes):
Clean the artichokes starting with the cut the stems (leave about 10 cm attached to the artichoke, while another 10 cm cut them and keep them aside). Remove the hardest outer leaves from the artichoke, the terminal part of the leaves with the thorns and cut them in half. Remove the central hay, cut them into slices and dip them in cold acidulated water (with lemon juice and lemon slices) to prevent them from blackening.

Private the prawns of the head, shell them and remove them from the intestine. Some cut them into small pieces, while others keep them whole to garnish the dish.

Remove them from the water with a skimmer taking care not to throw away the water (we cook the pasta) and separating the artichokes from the stems. The stalks pass them to the blender with a ladle of water so as to obtain a cream.
In the cream obtained add the peel of a grated lemon.

Put a large pan on the stove (we will then skip the pasta) with plenty of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and 3 cloves of garlic. When browned remove the garlic and add the artichokes until they are a bit crisp. When they will be crispy, remove from heat, with a tongs so as to leave the cooking oil and seasoned with artichoke and garlic in the pan.

Meanwhile, in the same cooking water of the artichokes, boil the spaghetti (I recommend that the water is abundant, in case add it before putting the spaghetti down).
Meanwhile, in the same pan of artichokes, over low heat, add the prawns. Add the pasta, when it is al dente, one or two ladles of cooking water and a tablespoon of cream of stalks and let it boil again high.

When creamed, add the artichokes and switch off.
Now arrange, placing on the bottom of the plate, before the pasta, a spoon of the cream of stalks, taking care to finish the dish with a little sauce and artichokes unmade and, if you like, a freshly ground pepper.
 

... and then enjoy your meal with Prawns and Crispy Artichokes, which if accompanied and served in the colorful dishes of CeramicaVietrese.it will certainly be even better, but also more beautiful to behold !!!